First and foremost, the BIG NEWS for this community is that Benedict Cumberbatch (jointly with Jonny Lee Miller) won Best Actor for Frankenstein at the Olivier Theatre.

CONGRATULATIONS BENEDICT!

In fact, they were the only people whom I was backing that won anything!

However, Collaborators at the Cottesloe Theatre did win Best New Play; and although I was backing One Man, Two Guvnors, I can live with this as it is still the National Theatre and it is still Nick Hytner (Director)!

Commiserations to Nick Hytner for missing out on Best Director. But he has won before, for The History Boys, so I am sure he can cope (although I personally think it is a travesty!).

Overall, Matilda picked up a grand total of 7 Oliviers. This is simply mind-blowing and set a new record for the number of wins by a single show. Although I don't talk about them that much, I LOVE a good West End musical and I have seen virtually all the long running ones at some time or another. However, I have not yet seen Matilda, as I mistakenly saw it as a "children's piece". I need to go and see it as soon as I can. The four Matildas receiving their joint award for Best Actress in a Musical has just got to be one of the cutest moment EVER on a theatre awards show!

Speaking of musicals, I was really pleased that lyricist Tim Rice got an Olivier Special Award. I am a huge Tim Rice fan and I love Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King. One of his less famous musicals Chess, also contains within it one of my favourite musical theatre songs ever, "I Know Him So Well", which still has the power to completely floor me. It was sung at the Olivier ceremony tonight and I loved the rendition!

Finally, a special thank you to Anneka Rice who was hosting the red button coverage and who gave a special shout out to NT Live, saying how brilliant it was. I couldn't agree more. Anneka talked about how it was bringing the best of London Theatre out to everyone, as you could take your whole family to the cinema at an affordable price, at a cinema close to where you lived, and have the best theatre beamed direct to you from the National Theatre. She spoke very passionately about how much she and her family enjoyed it and how it was genuinely opening up access to the best theatre for everyone. I agree!

If you want to see Frankenstein and missed it last year when it was on at the National (or could not get tickets for it) please note that there are encore screenings of both versions of Frankenstein coming to cinemas across the UK and worldwide in June. Follow the link for all the details:http://mycroft-brolly.livejournal.com/256392.htmlThis may be your last chance to see it, so don't miss it and get your tickets in now!